"I've got an extra ticket and thought you might like to go" he said. 

When he offered me the ticket, I almost jumped out of my skin. These weren't ordinary tickets you see... these were floor tickets.  As I stuffed my face with overpriced popcorn, $5.00 hotdogs and a $7.00 beer, ...

I often times find that life mimics science.  Just as gas follows the path of least resistance during mechanical ventilation, so too do managers when making decisions that impact their department.  Whether their decisions are made with selfish intent, or purely without realization, managers will quite often avoid "the path less traveled" for the comfort and reassurance of what comes easiest.

We've ...

It seemed as if the switch from CFC inhalers to HFA inhalers would go off without a hitch.

Manufacturers increased production to prevent shortages, and the American Lung Association even produced a

One thing my MBA education taught me regarding the success and failure of an organization was the importance of a thorough S.W.O.T. analysis.  In simple terms, a S.W.O.T. analysis is nothing more than a 360° evaluation of an organization that scrutinizes an organization's strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O), and threats (T).  Performed collaboratively with individuals that encompass a wide range ...

Combating an industry that has spent decades building an image that smoking is cool, New York City is airing gruesome images of suffering and disfigurement on television and in subways and taxis.

New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has launched a series of commercials profiling a Bronx woman - Marie - ...

"You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can't make all of the people happy all of the time". 

As the old adage goes, the larger the group or population you're serving, the more difficult it becomes to make decisions that are embraced by all those involved and who are impacted by those decisions that you make.  This example is no more exemplified than in recently proposed ...

I've always been a big fan of magic.  The imagination and intrigue is for great entertainment.  For the true professionals like Harry Houdini, David Copperfield, or Chris Angel, their performances stimulate(d) the imagination of their audience.  Some of my most memorable recollections were in which the magician appeared to teleport himself from one location to another in the blink of an eye.  This ...

Everyone loves weekends.  For many, it's their time to kick back, throw their feet up and take a few moments for themselves.  Whether it's just an opportunity to enjoy a hot cup of java in the morning while reading the newspaper (I personally enjoy doing Sudoku puzzles) or to simply stay in their PJs all day, weekends are a time for rejuvenation, and relaxation.

As such, Fridays are not far behind ...

To call in sick, or not to call in sick... that is the question.  Inevitably, this is the dilemma that thousands of respiratory therapists across the country confront themselves with every day at this time of year.  Just as hospitals everywhere fill with sick patients, the communities at large are not the only ones feeling the wrath of bronchitis, pneumonia, or influenza.  At risk by no fault of their ...

The Kalahari Desert in Africa is one of the hottest places on earth. The conditions are so unbearable, only the fittest can survive. Without water, dehydration takes place within hours... not days. Poisonous scorpions and rattlesnakes lie in wait... their venom enough not to just kill one man, but ten. Only those with years of training and expertise can survive for prolonged periods of time before they succumb to ...

Rhythmic jazz music and the sweet scent of flowers filled the Philadelphia Convention center during my last visit for the Philadelphia Flower Show. This time, the sniffling was the same-blame it on Philadelphia's late winter weather-but  the topic, pediatric asthma, generated more serious dialogue.

Health care professionals gathered in the ballroom ...

It's that time of year again at our hospital. Performance appraisals are due. For some, it's looked at as an opportunity for constructive feedback that will allow them to improve their performance. For others, it's merely a right of passage in order to maintain employment.

It's never been difficult for me to evaluate the performance of the front-line staff. There are really only two parameters ...

Kirk Walters of The Toledo Blade

Technology in the 21^st ...

When Jennifer Moyer Darr, LCSW, a social worker with the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colo., asked one of her young clients suffering asthma to draw her illness, Darr was puzzled by the crayon markings on the page.

A clown named Azma filled half the page, flashing his fangs and wearing a pink flower in his fedora hat. The girl drew herself less than half the size of Azma, standing in ...

Roughly 7,000 physicians and health care practitioners are gathering in Philadelphia for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual conference (March 14 to 18). ADVANCE staffers will share highlights throughout the four-day convention in the interactive Respiratory Quotient blog community. Join us for discussions about lectures, keynote speakers, poster sessions, ...

Standing shoulder to shoulder we stood at attention being careful not to move a muscle.  There we stood; shoulders back, chest out, chin up and staring straight ahead.  After all, what are you supposed to do when a former presidential hopeful steps onto the elevator with you?

A member of the Ohio contingent representing the AARC's Policital Action Contact Team (PACT), I was on my way with fellow Ohioans ...

It was roughly one year ago this week that I was surrounded with some of the hardest working, most passionate, and dedicated respiratory therapists this country has to offer.  Unified by the common goal of advocating for the profession and the millions of patients around the country who suffer from pulmonary disease, 115 respiratory therapists from 48 different states and all different walks of life swarmed on ...

I'm not sure that I understand, nor do I know why the NBRC recently granted a one year amnesty period for certified respiratory therapists who graduated prior to 2005 to sit for the RRT exam.  While extending this period allows the NBRC to "help us meet our responsibility to certificants, their colleagues, and, ultimately, their patients", I don't know that it really does.

They then contradict themselves ...

I don't know that I ever bought into the notion that respiratory therapy (or anything else for that matter) was like riding a bike.

"Once you learn how, you'll never forget" my dad used to say. 

Hence was the reason I was so apprehensive this week when I was in attendance at a pharmacology lecture I set up for our staff on hemodynamic drugs.  After all, it's been about 6 years now since ...